Southern Illinois 100 Features Tight ARCA Point Battle

The 60th running of the Federated Car Care-Southern Illinois 100 takes place on Labor Day at the DuQuoin State Fair with two youngsters locked in a duel for their first ever ARCA Racing Series presented by Menard’s crown including the defending race winner. A five time Southern Illinois 100 race winner recently broke a long losing streak in the ARCA series and has asserted himself into the point battle as well. Add in some ringers and the 60th Southern Illinois 100 has plenty of excitement for race fans on Labor Day.

Chris Buescher and Brennan Poole were locked in an epic battle for the 2012 ARCA championship with just 10 points separating them prior to Springfield. Buescher became the second 19 year old to win the Southern Illinois 100 as he led 60 circuits in giving the Roulo Brothers of Chicago their second DuQuoin win. He has two ARCA wins in 2012 and ten top ten finishes in thirteen starts. Poole, driving for Billy Venturini, also has two victories and ten top ten’s in 2012. While the point landscape changed after Springfield and again after Buescher’s win at Madison, Wisconsin a familiar face enters DuQuoin with a good chance at a victory.

Five time Southern Illinois 100 winner and nine-time ARCA champion Frank Kimmel of Indiana broke a winless streak that dated back to Salem in 2008 when he won at Indianapolis in July and backed that up with an unprecedented 8th win at Springfield. The dirt victory put Kimmel solidly in the running for an unprecedented tenth ARCA crown and with his dirt track experience he could enter or leave DuQuoin with the point lead. He is currently 60 behind Buescher and 12 laps in front at the “Magic Mile’ would make him the all-time stock car lap leader at DuQuoin.

Ten consecutive pole positions for the Southern Illinois 100 were won by drivers with significant open wheel experience until Ty Dillon broke the streak in 2011. Dillon has moved on to the NASCAR Nationwide Series but a new streak could be started as 2010 winner Steve Arpin of Canada returns and the son of a former World of Outlaws champion is set to make his debut. Kevin Swindell of Tennessee is slated to make is DuQuoin ARCA debut behind the wheel of a Venturini stock car and the son of Sammy Swindell has lots of experience to glean from his father about running the big mile dirt tracks. Sammy has numerous victories on the big tracks and holds the world record lap for a sprint car at over 145 miles an hour at Springfield! Add in former pole sitter A.J. Fike of Galesburg and Tom Hessert (driving for Ken Schrader) and the pole and race could go to an open wheeler on Labor Day. A newcomer from the open wheel ranks is Darren “the Hawk” Hagen whose experience on the dirt miles is limited to the USAC Silver Crown Series.

ARCA regulars Chad Hackenbracht, Ryan Reed and Alex Bowman are currently in the top ten in the ARCA point standings and expected at DuQuoin along with veterans Darrell Basham and the ageless James Hylton who can add to his record as being the oldest stock car driver ever at DuQuoin.

Centralia’s Joe Cooksey is a popular figure at the “Magic Mile” and he returns for another shot at the Southern Illinois 100. Benton’s Shane Cockrum is entered with West Frankfort owner Brad Hill while Benton’s Bill McCreery is slated to have former UMP National Champion Rodney Melvin of Logan behind the wheel again. Former UMP National driving champion Ryan Unzicker has a ride with Venturini.

The lure of DuQuoin dirt has enticed NASCAR’s Tony Stewart, Ken Schrader, Andy Petree and Red Famer onto the clay in the last ten years and rumors abound that more than one NASCAR driver has been considering a deal to run at DuQuoin. Any such entry would be contingent upon their standing for the NASCAR Chase and the race at Atlanta on September 2.

Practice for the ARCA machines is slated for 9 a.m. with pole qualifying at 11 and the 60th Federated Southern Illinois 100 slated for 1.

Practice tonight on the big track is ON. Pits open at 5:00. Open practice 6-9. Pit passes $15. Grandstands free. Pull the truck up and tailgate and enjoy some race cars along with this wonderful weather.

Practice tonight on the big track is ON. Pits open at 5:00. Open practice 6-9. Pit passes $15. Grandstands free. Pull the truck up and tailgate and enjoy some race cars along with this wonderful weather. ...

Just 18 days until our 70th season goes green with the 6th Annual Spring Fling. We keep our countdown going with some more great photos. We seen a lot of history written last season, including Shannon Babb becoming the winningest driver in Herald & Review 100 history when he won the 34th edition of the event, which was his 5th event win, on 7/10/14 captured by Patrick Davis. In addition to this, track photographer Christa Hunter of Hunter Photography & Wood Working got some great shots of her own. Here is Anthony Craven in his DIRTcar UMP Sportsman back on 9/27/14. Finally, we have a neat shot, in black & white, from when Randy Myers hot lapped his Midwest Open Wheel AssociationNeal Tire and Auto Service Sprint Car Series presented by Casey's General Store machine during Decatur's Country Home 95Q Firecracker 40's night, 6/28/14. (3 photos) ...

Just 12 days away from kicking off our 41st season of racing! Here are some great shots from Randy Brown of Tracaxn Photo to keep the photo countdown going. First, we have Mountain Dew Kickstart DIRTcar UMP Super Late Model driver Kevin Weaver on the hammer from the evening of the Scottie 40, 5/18/14. Next, we have Summy Tire & Automotive Service IMCA Racing Sport Mod driver Brandon Dale from 9/21/14. Finally we have Jerrod Hull (12) looking to the outside of Jake Glasgow (59) during Midwest Open Wheel AssociationNeal Tire and Auto Service Sprint Car Series presented by Casey's General Store action on 9/21/14. (3 photos) ...

Just 10 more days until opening night, and we keep our photo countdown going. First we have Midwest Open Wheel AssociationNeal Tire and Auto Service Sprint Car Series presented by Casey's General Store driver Jeremy Standridge from the Ron Milton Race of Champions season finale on 10/11/14. From the same night, 10/11/14, we have DIRTcar UMP Modified Driver Kelly Kovski. To round the photos out for today we have UMP Street Stock driver Brandon Logue from 8/22/14. (3 photos) ...

We are only 3 short days away from kicking off the 2015 season! We keep our photo countdown going thanks to some great shots from track photographer Joseph Putnam of Slingin Dirt with Security Photo. First, we have Midwest Technical InstituteDIRTcar UMP Modified driver Cory Schwengel from 5/25/14. Next, we have hornet driver Bob Sanders from 5/25/14. Finally we have Darren Hagen (3) outside of Tanner Thorson (67) during Lucas OilPOWRi National Midget Series action here on 6/7/13. (3 photos) ...

For our weekly hornet show at Lincoln Speedway we are taking a step back to move forward long-term. Having spoken to several of our local racers, Hornets will go back to being paid the equivalent of a pit pass - regardless of finishing position. The race winner will be given a trophy.

We will not be racing for UMP points or requiring UMP membership in the Hornet division. We will schedule a couple of better-paying special events during the season and will announce those soon.

We have fielded a number of calls over the past few weeks of drivers from outside the immediate Lincoln area wanting to tow to Lincoln to chase points and pay. There are other tracks to earn those points and paycheck not too far away, including our sister track in Jacksonville - which will continue to be UMP points and pay.

We aren't worried about car count. We are worried about fun. This change also allows us to do more fun things with the class without interfering with a National Points chase. Expect celebrity drivers, inverts and other things to add some excitement to the class.

In Lincoln, with the support of our local drivers, the Hornet class is going to return to its roots. Fun and affordable racing that is inviting to the new driver. Our fields might get smaller before they get bigger, but we are positioning the class to survive and grow over the long term.

We plan to have drawings for prizes and even cash for those who show-up and support the concept... in fact the many will find they are taking home more than they did when we paid $100 to win. ...

Heidi HamesEveryone said it wouldnt work when norm did it then the counts went up!6 hours ago

Bob SandersI have a few Dodge Neons that need engines,If anyone would like to help in getting engines for them I would be willing to put them back together in order to get new or former racers to the track.6 hours ago · 2

"For tracks it’s definitely a damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation. Somebody is going to be unhappy no matter what you do. You simply have to decide what is best for you. Perhaps the best news is that before we know it, summer will be here. At that point we can all complain because it’s too damn hot and too damn dry. If you think about it, it’s all one big vicious cycle…. and all we can do is sit back and laugh."